question on tegu hip bones

[izzy]

Hey guys soo I'm able to feel my tegus hip bones but they don't stick out ? Is this normal? And also my tegu eats every other day but...by the next day he's skinny do they just digest really fast? Or should I be worried about a parasite possibly? Not Sure how fast they digest but he's 6months and wondering if I should feed him everyday instead.

 

[marydd]

Let's see a picture if those hip bones if you can get one.
Regarding the gu being skinny the day after.... I would have it checked for parasites if you are worried! I have never had an experience with that so I can't help much. It's your gu wild caught or captive bred? If wild caught I would get it to the vet asap.

 

[izzy]

Here's his hips.

 

[N8bub]

I'm not a pro, but I've kept more than a few reptiles. His hip looks fine, I wouldn't be scared to feed himevery day , thats what I do and my boy isn't fat. He doesn't have a fair amount of tail chub tho and that seems to be the only reason I would say feed more every other day or the same amount daily.

 

[Bubblz Calhoun]

Normal, having a fecal done to test for parasites never hurts, maybe your pockets some time but that comes a long with piece of mind afterwards. How fast or how well they digest something depends on husbandry and what they eat (also how much). Processed meaty meals like turkey mixes and things like that digest much quicker than heavier meals like whole prey. It's sometimes normal for them to look slimmer, abdomen not as full, after taking a poop. I would say skinnier but definitely slimmer between meals sometimes even if they poop right after a meal. A good indicator of when and how much to feed is watching the skin fold along the side of their abdomen. When they're full, the abdomen is tight and round with no wrinkles but as they start to digest food and poop it gets smaller and skin fold starts to develop.

 

[Jackie & Hellboy]

Exactly as bubblz said, when they're full of food their belly looks plump and when they lie down it sticks out to the sides but when they've processed digested and pooped they look empty and act exactly the same way. If you are worried about parasites I wouldn't be soely on the grounds of the stomach changed between meals but it never hurts to take 3 or more poops in to test (if I'm not mistaken you can save it in the freezer through the week and take all of it at once and only have to pay one fecal test fee right?) would be a nice save in money as opposed to paying 3 sample fees